Table-cloth clasp.



G. HATZFELD. TABLE CLOTH CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 14, 1913.

1,069,1 34;. Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

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W mwm CHARLES HAT ZFELD, OF MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS.

TABLE-CLOTH CLASP.

Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed February 14, 1913. Serial No. 748,405.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HA'IZFELD, a citizen of the United States, residin at Mineral Wells, in the county of Palo Pinto andState of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Table- Cloth Clasps, of whlch the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a clasp or device forI holding a table cloth in place upon a tab e.

An important object of this invention is to provide a clasp of the above mentioned character which maybe readily detachably connected with the table top, will securely hold the table cloth in place thereon, and will be entirely concealed by the table cloth.

A further object of this invention is to provide a clasp of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, easy to operate and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent durlng the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a side view of the clasp showing the same applied to a table and engaging the table clot Fig. 2 is an inner side view of the clasp, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow, the operatin cam being shown in its lower position, an Fig. 3 is a side view of the clas In the drawings, wherein is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 3 designates a table top of any well known or preferred type.

My clasp comprises an approximately U- slmped body portion 4, including upper and lower horizontal sides 5 and 6 connected by a depending portion 7, which is preferably disposed at: a right angle to the upper and lower horizontal sides; The depending portion 7 formed sufficiently long to extend downwardly beyond the table top 3, to proide an opening or space 8 between the table top and the lower horizontal side 6.

The numeral 9 designates an elastic or compressible element, preferably formed of an approximately S-shaped leaf-spring as shown. As clearly shown in Fig. 3,'w en the spring 1) is not under pressure, its upper portion 9 is vertically inclined so that it leaf-spring 9 is extended to form a table.

cloth engaging arm or portion 13, provided with an inwardly curved portion 14, as shown. The free end of the arm 13 is bent upwardly to' clamp a portion of the table cloth 15 or the like into engagement with the wall of the recess 15 formed in the lower side 6 of the body portion 4. The numeral 15' designates a transverse pin, which serves to pivotally connect an operating cam 16 with the sides of the U-shapd bracket 12, such operating cam being disposed between these sides and having its free end adapted to engage with the arm 13,215 shown. It is obvious that by moving the approximately U-shaped body ortion 4 horizontally onto the table top 3, t e S-shaped leaf-spring will be automatically compressed to properly engage the lower surface of the table top, thus securely detachably holding the entire device thereon.

Any suitable number of my improved clasps may be mounted upon a table top as will be found advantageous under the circumstances. The table cloth 1:) is then spreadupon the table in the usual manner. The operating cam 16 is now moved to its lower position, as shown in dottedlines at Fig. 1, whereby its engaging end will fit within the inwardly curved portion 14, to

rovide a suitable space between the clamplng end of the arm 18 and the wall of the recess 15. The material of the depending end of the table elotlris now passed into such space and the operating cam swung to its up or position, .whereby the arm 13 will secure y clamp the material of the table cloth within the recess 15", thus holding the same against displacement. It -is obvious that the table cloth may be readily released by swinging the operating cam 16 to its lower position. A particular advantage of my construction is that the table cloth completely conceals the clasps "which hold the Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

same in place. The clasps will fit upon table tops having different thicknesses, as is obvione.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described is to .be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that certain" changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim I A clasp of the character described, comprising an approximately Ushaped body portion to be mounted upon a table top below the table cloth; a leaf-spring mounted upon the lower arm of the approximately U-shaped body portion and having the upper portion thereof which is disposed between the lower arm and the table top bent in the form of a plurality of turns for forming resilient means for clamping the approximately U-shaped body portion to the table top, said leaf-spring having its lower 25 portion extending downwardly beneath the lower arm of the approximately U-shaped body portion and bent in the form of a resilient clamp adapted for movement into and out of engagement with'said lower arm to hold a portion of the table cloth in clamping engagement with the same; a bracket straddling the lower arm and the leaf spring; common means for attaching the bracket and the leaf-spring to said lower W. P. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

